Flexible wooden shoe-sole.



1.1. MOLLOY.

FLEXIBLE WOODEN SHOE SOLE.

APPHCATION FILED SEPT. I l. 19!].

1,270, 1 89. Patented June 18, 1918.

2a I lcljyolioy,

UNITED s TEs PATENT OFFICE.

" f'; y-Jp w. MOLLOSLOF GEORGETOWN, MASSAcHUsETTs.

FLEXIBLE WOODEN SHOE-SOLE.

To all whom 'itoaay concern Be itknown that I, JOHN J. MoLLoY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Georgetown, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible l/Vooden Shoe-Soles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in a flexible wooden shoe sole and has for one of its objects the provision of a device of this character, which will have substantiallythe flexibility of an ordinary leather sole, and which will be simple, durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a sole constructed of a pair of sections, which are so connected that they will permit of the sole bending with the foot while Walking.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means adapted to prevent dirt and other foreign matter from entering or accumulating in the connection between the sections of the sole, obviating the danger of incorrect operation of the connection at all times.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully describedand claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a flexible Wooden shoe sole constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating the connection between the sections of the sole,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View illustrating the protector strip secured to the inner face of the sole and adapted to overlie the connection between the sections of the sole,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the connection between the sole and the upper of the shoe,

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat nted June 18, 1918. Application filed September 11', 1917. Serial No. 190,771.

Fig. 6 is modified form of hinge connection between the sections of the sole.

: Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates as an entirety, a wooden sole consisting of sections 2 and 3. The upper edge of the sole 1 is recessed as shown at 4 for the purpose of receiving the edges of an upper 5 of a shoe, which may be of any desired character. The-edge of the'upper 5 fits within the recess 4 and is secured therein by fastening means 6 that extend through a binding strip7 of leather or other suitable material whereby the sole is firmly secured to the upper of the shoe. The section 3 of the sole 1 constitutes an instep portion 8 terminating rearwardly in a heel portion 9. The section 2 forms the ball or tread portion of the sole 1. The sole 1, to form the Sections 2 and 3 is beveled at a point of connection between the instep portion 8 and the tread or ball portion of the sole. The section 2 is provided with a bevcled portion 11 that cooperates with the beveled portion 12 of the section 3, which permits of the section 2 moving with relation to the section 3, the upper bein secured to both sections forms a hinge connection therebetween. The outer faces of the sections 2 and 3 at their point of connection are provided with recesses 13 extending the entire width. of the sections andcooperating with each other to receive a protector plate 14 that has each end disposed at right angles to form side flan es 15. The side flanges 15 extend upward y upon each edge of the sole 1 and are secured by fastening means 16 to the section 2 of the sole so that upon movement of the section 2, the protector plate 14 moves toward and from the section 3, and which protector plate is adapted to prevent the accumulation of dirt and other foreign matter between the beveled faces 11 and 12 of the sections 2 and 3. The inner faces of the sections 2 and 3 adjacent the beveled faces 11 and 12 are provided with a recess 17 to receive a lining strip 18, which may be constructed of any desired material suitable for the purpose, such as rubber or the like, and is secured to the section 2 by fastening means 19. The lining 18 overlies the connection between the sections 2 and 3 so as to prevent the sections from pinching or injuring the foot while the sections 2 and 3 are moved in relation with each other when the Sole is conforming to the movement of the foot.

Referring to my modified form of inviention as disclosed in Fig. 6, it conslsts of a V.-shaped extensionQOformdupon thesecwhich provides a novel form of hinge conne'ction'bet'ween the'sections 2 and 3 so as to prevent dirt and other foreign'matter from working in between the sections and into the shoe.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my'invention, it will be understood that minor changes'in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may bemade without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention ascl'aimed.

What is "claimed is:

A wooden sole-for shoes comprising" 9.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for upon platedisp'o'sed within said recesses and overtread portion, an instep and heel portion combined, a shoe upper secured to said por- "tions for hingedl-y connecting the instep and tread portions together, said tread and instep portions having cooperating recesses the outer faces thereof, a protector lying the connection between said tread and instep portions, flanges formed upon the ends of the pro tector'plate and secured to the tread portion.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

p JOHN J.."MOLLO;Y, 1

' Witnesses:

. C. L; FERGUSON,

E. S.'DANIELS.'

five cents oath, by addressing," the flommissioner'offratefits, Washlngtonfl). 0.

and right angled 

